If you haven't yet read our Corvette C7 Prototype Spyshot article, the next-gen car won't likely have a split rear window, though it will benefit from weight loss and a base V-8 downsized from 6.2 liters to as little as 5.5 liters. Though usually synonymous with V-8 power, the Corvette originally started life with a six-cylinder model in the '50s.Currently, 2012 Corvette EPA-rated fuel economy tops out at 16/26 mpg city/highway for the 6.2-liter V-8 mated to the six-speed manual transmission. A seven-speed manual transmission is rumored for the next Corvette, a good way to keep up with the Porsche 911, which exclusively uses six-cylinder engines.

So we'll ask again: Would you consider a V-6 powered C7 Corvette if performance levels were up to par? Or would Chevy's iconic V-8s be the only acceptable engine option? Just how important is the classic V-8 sound to a 21st century Corvette? Tell us what you think below.

You sound like a Mustang owner that got stomped on by a Corvette. In my family of brothers and sisters we have 5 Corvettes. The one and ONLY problem any of us has had is keeping rear tires on them because of the fantastic power these cars have. Sounds like your full of it.

Why not the way I see it if your stupid enough to buy a corvette when there are so many other cars out there that makes them a joke why should a 6 banger bother ya. You go G.M......lmao! I bought a corvette in 2000 rightr off the showroom floor,couldnt keep it running, if fell apart faster than they could fix it,quality is what you should be worried about,but doesnt matter you wont get the chance to burn me again,keep your junk.

The Corvette is a sports car. Its job is not to make you comfy while you stroll down the boulevard, or to make the drive back and forth from church and the grocery store less stressful. If you want that, buy a Mercedes or a BMW.

They would not use a straight six. The benefit in using one is that it is a perfectly balanced engine, producing much less vibrations than say a V6. However, the Corvette is not a luxury car like a BMW. That's why they extensively use plastics and have little soundproofing. Since a V6 is lighter than a comparable displacement straight six, they will use it.

The C1 had sixes. Are you saying it wasn't a Corvette? Besides, a TT V6 with today's technology might push more HP than your "racing engine." And with good fuel mileage and driveability that are completely absent in older SBCs with aggressive cams and other mods.
Anyways, if GM needs to do it to meet standards, I'd rather see the Corvette downsized to a six cylinder base model than cut from the lineup completely. You know as well as I do that the median age of a Corvette buyer probably hovers around 55. Out of all the people who own them, maybe 10% of them really care about what it's made of. Very few could care that the car has a transaxle to move weight distribution rearward. Or that it has floorboards made with balsa wood to be lighter, or a hydroformed structure quite a bit stiffer than previous Corvettes, 6 piston front calipers, etc.
A TT V6 is just fine with me, as long as I can reasonably upgrade to a V8. The people buying for a midlife crisis (90%+) will not care

Sorry kids. A Corvette with a V6 just ain't right. Yes, the original had one, but the proper engine for a Vette is the V8, and that even includes a "no V10 or V12" perspective, too. A smaller displacement 327 or even a 283 may pass muster, but the exhaust note from a V6 would be a joke.

I never want to have to ask someone if their corvette, a MUSCLE CAR, if it is a V8 or a V6. Only a ricer would get a V6 corvette, and we could use fewer of those morons to begin with. Being an owner of a C3 with a 383 racing engine, I laugh at anyone dumb enough to buy a corvette without a corvette motor.

I currently own a 2006 C6 w/LS2 V-8; love it.(I'm a liar, I actually own a reproduction of the honda from fast and furious) I’d certainly look at a V-6 with forced induction in the upcoming C7. (because if I beg my mother to co-sign for it it might be in my price range to sign and drive before it's repo'd) I would also look at the upcoming Acura NSX and the production version of the Lexusc concept LF-LC. (because since I own a honda civic it's the closest I can get to having any product knowledge; they're both japanese after all) However, with the price increases and product changes that have taken place with the Corvette since 2006, the C7 would have to be a significant upgrade in all areas to compete for my dollar. (Which in reality is about enough to buy another used civic. I never could afford a corvette) With that said, I couldn’t look at a BMW M3 or a Porsche 911S, as total performance value is far below the Corvette.(I can't look at them anyway they keep throwing me out of the dealerships) Perhaps a 2013-2015 Mustang BOSS 302 is now a contender. (Because to close this article and make you think I am a corvette owner; I figured I throw something random in here. Because I have no idea the top production Shelby mustang was completely crushed by a z06 corvette; and you will believe anything I say because I write so well and have now con'd you into thinking I actually own a corvette. The BOSS mustang is certain to be breaking 560 horse power and have an actual sports car suspension.)

I say yes to a turbo six because that would pump up GM's EPA and CAFE scores seeing that vette sales lower their average and all auto makers need every last MPG that they can get. Besides, any real vette buyer is going to get V8 anyways. It would also serve to separate the posers from the real vette fan.

I do have one as a daily driver and i get much better gas milage than my girlfriends V6 Jeep or my exwifes V6 Fusion. Corvette isn't going to be affected by the new standards because the MPG difference between the current LS3 and a turbo V6 set up to match HP isn't going to be enough to make the change.

That's funny because i own a 2006 Corvette and i AVERAGE about 24 MPG. I tracted my FE on my trip from San Diego to Houston and averaged 28 MPG. YOu don't know what you're talking about. Additionally the weight ratio of the Corvette is nearly perfect front/rear and left/right. This is because the engine DOESN'T sit directly over the front wheels like you suggest. I should know, i've been under the hood of mine enough to notice. Maybe when you are able to to actually own or drive either you can comment with what you know and not just with what you have read.

The V6 was only used in the '53 and '54 Vette. The small block V8 was introduced in the '55 Vette. They sold almost as many Vettes in '55 as they sold in '53 and '54 combined, the only change in the car was the V8. So how would a V6 be better?

So by updating the car for the 21st century we should look back to the Firebird? There is a reason GM stopped using the V6 in Vettes and never went back, they don't fit the image. You can get good power from a V6 and there are several good V6 engines out there but they don't fit the image of the Corvette. A V6 in a Vette isn't an update, it's a downgrade. That downgrade is obvious by the fact that most people buying the new Camaro V6 are only choosing it for the price, if they were able to afford the V8 they would have. The MPG difference between the two isn't that big. My LS2 averages about 22-26mpg depending on how i'm driving. I averaged close to 28 on my trip from San Diego to Houston so why would i need a V6? The argument that they produce the same HP with better gas milage is BS. If you're worried about MPG then get a hybrid.

GM reps have said from the very beginning that the Stingray concept will never see production. It was them asking their design team to come up with something wild and innovative and nothing more. I've also seen refrences from GM stating that the Jalopnik rendurings aren't correct either. I wouldn't put it past GM to be planting a lot of these false rumors about V6 engines, mid engine designs, split rear windows, etc.. in order to build more hype for the release of the C7. I highly doubt GM is stupid enough to ruin their flagship vehicle for thousands of Corvette lovers around the world just so they can capture the appeal of younger buyers that can't afford the car anyway. Think about it, lowering the standards of the base model by using a V6, cloth seats, etc. so they can bring the price point down enough to sell to younger buyers would kill sales of either the Vette or the Camaro since they would be dipping into each others market. If anything there will be a performance jump in the base model to put it at least 30hp over the V8 Camaro. Camaro and Corvette are aimed at different demographics with different price points. Why would they want to muddy the water and eventually kill off one of their best selling cars?

Why is there even a "need" to downgrade the Vette? Vettes are targeted at a specific demographic. It's not meant for the young, ricer crowd. When GM say's they are trying to target a "younger" crowd they aren't talking about the high school kids cruising around it Honda's and Nissan's. They are refering to the 30 something’s who have a misguided belief that the Vette is an "old man’s" car. Putting a V6 in a Vette will ruin the nostalgia of the Vette who loved the vehicle through the generations causing sales among those who can afford it to dip while still not putting it in price range for the "new generation" to afford. Making a model with lower standards than the current base model is counterproductive and brand suicide. Besides there has been no word from anyone in GM to lead anyone to believe a V6 is even being considered. If anything they are trying to capture i higher market and move into the supercar arena. The new mid engine Vette prototype built for Daytona is more evidence that they are moving up the ladder, not down.

The people at Dodge are idiots for ruining the Charger and now the Dart name plates. If GM wants to capture an younger market then they need to do it with a different car. Focus on the Camaro and maybe another sport compact to replace the Cobalt/Cavalier. Leave the Vette at the status where it belongs. V8, 2 door, 2 seater or nothing. The only major change i'd like to see in the vette is on the interior. I have an '06 Vette and i love everything about it but the interior. If GM goes with a V6 in the C7, even as a base model, i'm walking.

This is just another reason to dislike the younger youth coming into society. yes the corvette was first introduced with a inline 6. but what is a corvette without a V8 growl? sure we can save weight have equal or more power than a V8. but hey lets stay true to our blood lines. i have only owned gm vehicles. and if gm would tune there vehicles better they could get better gas mileage. but this isnt the big picture. the oil companies is the big picture. How with tuning could i get a ls2 motor in a 3800lb car to get 26 mpg and stay emisson legal with an automatic? they shouldn't even give it the corvette badge if they do something so stupid. its not a corvette without a V8. oh what is disappointing is the ZR1 with a supercharger. dont get me wrong i love the numbers it makes. but why couldn't they do more work to the 427??? make it a little higher compression. i know they could squeeze out 600hp out of that motor without induction. Let other car companies like FORD make there power with induction. we have beaten ford many years without induction. ferrari, and lamborghini doesnt use force fed. yes i know they are super cars. but why not just put a little more technology in our "push rod" motors. thank god they are not dual over head cam V8's. what now a corvette that seats 4?

What is a V-12 other than 2 V-6 engines welded together. That's what they need to push the envelope. Cadillac conceptual V-16 powered engine featured cylinder deactivation shutting off most of the cylinders for drastically improved fuel economy exceeding 22 mpg during highway cruising but delivered the power when needed. If Corvettes wanna compete against next generation Ferrari's and Lamborghini's, they can't rely on those simple push rod V-8's anymore.

I currently own a 2006 C6 w/LS2 V-8; love it. I'd certainly look at a V-6 with forced induction in the upcoming C7. I would also look at the upcoming Acura NSX and the production version of the Lexusc concept LF-LC. However, with the price increases and product changes that have taken place with the Corvette since 2006, the C7 would have to be a significant upgrade in all areas to compete for my dollar. With that said, I couldn't look at a BMW M3 or a Porsche 911S, as total performance value is far below the Corvette. Perhaps a 2013-2015 Mustang BOSS 302 is now a contender.

I would take a V6 Corvette if it has the same performance and came back with 29 miles per gallon on the road. Heck yeah. Too many guys are only looking V8 and saying that it has to be there. Think about it this way. I can get a V6 that would blow the doors of the 90's V8. If it saved about 100 pounds off the front end and was more fuel miserly, count me in.

Well, I had always thought that 2-doors was synonymous with the Dodge Charger, but, apparently not.
I agree that Corvette should stick with a V8, or even extend to V-10/12. CAFE rules don't require EVERY SINGLE MODEL in a manufacturer's lineup to get 40mpg. The 'Vette could stick with its V8 and 25mpg while most of the other Chevy models go for higher mpgs, and focus instead on being innovative with the interior and driveline.

If chevy hopes to compete with Porsche, Lotus, the new NSX, and other high end brands, it's time to think about technology and innovation in addition to sheer brawn. a V8 has it's place, but so does an advanced drivetrain offering!

No V6, stick to the V8. And while you *can* get the same power out of a 6 as their 8, they won't, else they'd have more out of the 8. I don't see any reason for the v6, the Vette already has great mpg for a sports car.

i don't hear of Ferrari or lambo downsizing so why the hell should we? the corvette is The american MUSCLE car, heavily emphasized on muscle, so far the corvette has followed the Keep It Simple method and thats worked out pretty damn well, once we start going to way more complex things like more computerized components and super/turbochargers, 1 there is more room for errors, 2 the engine will not produce that roar that we like and will sound more like a whining P.O.S. ricer and 3 it will jack up the price. the c6 is my favorite gen. of vette. but it is about that time that changes are to be made to the next generation (even though i would rather keep the c6 round for a little longer). but i thing the only thing that should change in the c7 is the body style, performance wise its fine, and more fun to drive than other exotic super cars, granted the interior is in need of an upgrade. more over KEEP THE V8!!!!

Those are builders, not engineers, Coddington is dead, Jesse James has been married to many whores, one of them being your mother.
For God's sake, you guys had The Terminator as your governor, what next, Mickey Mouse?
Dont be a jackoff

With legendary builders like Carroll Shelby, chips foose, Boyd codington, Jesse James, rouch racing, saleen, and on and on Tesla motors, frisker, you just slapped ur self cause they all have built cars and crated legends like the Daytona cobra, the Diablo chopper, here in Cali. how's you mullet their huh business in the front party in the back still??

When you say here, I hope you are referring to Detroit, not California.
If it were up to California, it would give little or no performance, and cost you lots of money, like Cali's mother for a Friday night BJ.